Seek Forgiveness. Forgive. Pray. Stand. Watch. Wait. Love.

In Luke 15, Jesus shares 3 parables:  Parable of the Lost Sheep, Parable of the Lost Coin and Parable of the Lost Son.  In the first parable, the man who lost the sheep gathers friends to help go find the sheep and bring it back.  In the second parable, the woman turns on the lights, sweeps and seeks until she finds the coin.  Both of these parables mention that there is more joy in heaven when one sinner repents and both of these parables show the man or woman going out and looking for what was lost.

The third parable, Parable of the Lost Son, is a bit different.  This is a parable of a relationship.  In this parable the Lost Son's father doesn't call friends in to talk with his son or get a posse together to go out looking for him...He waits and watches.  Waiting.  Watching.  Loving.  We know this because scripture tells us "And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him." (Luke 15:20)

We all have those "lost" relationships...they may be damaged, strained, estranged or even completely broken...it's probably one of the most painful things we go through.  What do we do when we are faced with such heartache? 

Here are a few things God said to me during my quiet time today:

• Seek forgiveness...a relationship never succeeds or fails because of one person's actions. It is always a shared responsibility. If you're responsible for only 1% of the damage...own that 1%. Seek forgiveness and then forgive. No buts, no explanations as to why...just seek forgiveness. I love the words of Paul in Colossians 3:13: "Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony."

• Pray Psalm 139:23-24: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting." Is there anything in me that needs to change, anything in me that I need to do differently, anything in me...anything?? And if there is ... change it, fix it, work on it, put action to it.

• Follow the instruction of Ephesians 6:13: "...and having done all, to stand."

• Always, always, always, do what is right...no matter what. Galatians 6:9-10 says: "So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith."

• Never, never, never give up: Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1 Corinthians 13:7)

Seek Forgiveness. Forgive. Pray. Stand. Watch. Wait. Love.